Machine and method for packaging articles



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June 6, 1961 H, GANZ MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES FiledJune 26, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1961 H. GANZ 2,986,857

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed June 26, 1958 6Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR vv/Py 64M/z ATTO NEYS June 6, 1961 H. GANZ2,986,857

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed June 26, 1958 6Sheets-Sheet 4 29 .4. E v Vlq?) 4 /jf :f4

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lNvENToR ATT R N EY5 June 6, 1961 H. GANZ 2,986,857

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed June 2e, 1958 esheets-sheet 5 l 5 7- ql.. /4 /4 so l (-755 @o a5 2/ :75 3/ s?? 57 )L 375/ 32 June 6, 1961 H, GANZ 2,986,857

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed June 26, 1958 6Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Afa/v@ V 64M/z ATTOR EY United States Patent O2,986,857 MACHINE AND METHOD lFOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Henry Ganz,Teaneck, NJ., assignor to Continental Can Company, Ine., New York, N.Y.,a corporation of New York Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,634 15Claims. (Cl. S3-48) The invention relates to the packaging of cans andthe like in wrap-around paperboard carriers.

My invention has special application to use with paperboard cartons ofthe type disclosed in the copending application of Arthur J. Weiss,Serial No. 748,728, filed July l5, 1958, a continuation-in-part olfSerial No. 613,- 935, filed February 7, 1958, now abandoned. Suchcartons have overlapping closure panels, one of which has a latchopening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch for engagementwith such latch opening. In applying such a carton to cans, the closurepanels in the completed package are locked together. The catch of onepanel is inserted Within the latch openings of the other panel, and isthen swung so as to lock the catch. The catch may be secured afterlocking either by a tongue attached to the latching ap or by gluing thelatching ap directly, or both.

Summary In accordance with my invention, such wrap-around paperboardcartons are to be applied around a grouping of cans which are arrangedin one or more rows. When packaging two rows of cans and similarcontainers the chimes of the cans in one row are offset (in the finalpackage) from the chimes of the cans in the adjacent row so as toprovide a tight package. As the closure panels of the carton are folded,the chimes of the cans in one row are offset and overlapped, one at atime, with respect to the chimes of the cans in the adjacent row. Thepivotal catch must be inserted and locked so as to maintain a tightfinished package.

The carton blanks are introduced into the machine in a at form and arefed onto an upper conveyer which has blocks for pushing the cartonblanks. A separating means divides the cans into individual groupings,each of which may contain one or more rows of cans, and delivers thegroupings to the entrance of the mahcine. In the machine hereindescribed, I will refer to the packaging of two rows of cans. rIhe meansfor feeding the blank and the cans through the machine includes an upperand a lower conveyer. The blocks of the upper conveyer contact both thecarton blank trailing edge and the chimes of the two trailing cans inthe group being packaged, while the pusher bars of the lower conveyer,which are aligned with the aforementioned blocks, contact the 'trailingsides of the same cans as they move through the machine; thus, the cansin a grouping and the carton are simultaneously pushed by blocks and apusher bar. The blank, originally lfed onto the upper conveyer, isdelivered by the conveyer through curved guides so as to be inverted andthen positioned on an incoming grouping of cans.

The means for wrapping the carton blank around the outside of the rowsof cans includes a pair of rotating folding discs which are ofsemicircular ,form with a flange along a portion of one radial edge. Therotating folding disc causes the flange to contact the side panels ofthe fiat blank that is resting on the can grouping and forces the sidepanels of the carton blank down along the outsides of the rows of cans.

The means for folding the latch opening panel and for elevating thecans, one at a time, in the row adjacent the latch opening panelincludes an idler wheel under-- Patented June e, i961 lying the path oftravel of the approaching cans and having a portion above the plane ofthe supporting plate along which t-he cans in that row travel.` Thelatch opening panel passes between the bottom chimes of the said cansand the idler wheel so as to complete the folding of the latch openingpanel and elevate the cans, one at a time, thereby placing the chimes ofthe cans in one row in overlapped relation to the chimes of the cans inthe adjacent row as the carton is being wrapped thereabout.

The means for lfolding the pivotal catch panel and for engaging thepivotal catch includes a folding blade contacting the outside of thepanel and a vertical plate parallel to the direction of travel of thecans and aligned with the latch openings. Upon the folding of the panel,the pivotal catches are forced into contact with the vertical plate soas to be aligned with the latch openings. A vertical folding blade withan upwardly tapered edge engages the pivotal catch through the Ilatchopenmg.

The means for swinging the pivotal catch into substantially the plane ofthe folded closure panels includes a folding blade which swings thelatching flap outwarly. A second folding blade swings the llatching flapinwardly so as to direct the tongue against a folding member, whichfolding member swings the tongue upwardly to pass the tongue through thelatch opening while locking the pivotal catch with respect to the latchopening. Instead of securing the pivotal catch by means of the tongue,the latching ap may be glued so as to retain the catch in position.

The idler wheel assists in folding the latching flap beneath the cans asthe cans are elevated one at a time. The Vlatching flap is supported ontop of the idler wheel between the wheel and the cans. The latching flapassists the elevating motion and cushions lthe cans while they are beingelevated. Since the means for locking the pivotal catch of the cartoncontains no moving parts, there will be little likelihood of ranybreakdowns occurring during operation. At the same time, the lockingmeans is suitable for a pivotal catch carton whether t-he rotary catchis secured by the tongue or by gluing.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

Description In the drawings I have illustrated a machine to show thebest mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention as applied tothe packaging of two rows of cans in a wraparound carton having a rotarycatch.

FIGS. lA and 1B, when positioned together at `the indicated dash lines,give a Vplan view-of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the machine with the right portionof the machineshown at the bottom o the drawing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the machine, illustratingthe carton side panel folding operation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along .the lines indicated inFIG. 1A, illustrating the beginning of the latch opening panel foldingoperation.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines indicated inFIG, 1A, illustrating the completion of the latch opening panel foldingoperation, theelevation of the cans and the beginning of the pivotalcatch panel folding operation.

FIG, 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG.1B, illustrating the engagement ofthe pivotal catch.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1B,illustrating th@ initial rotation of the latching flap.

F1o, s is an enlargedrsectional viewtakeaalens'the line 8-8 of FIG. 1B,illustrating the swinging of the pivotal catch in the oppositedirection.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG.1B, illustrating the beginning of the tongue folding operation.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG.1B, illustrating further swinging of the pivotal catch.

FIG. l1 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG.1B, illustrating the tongue inserting operation.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG.1B, illustrating the pivotal catch. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of thepivotal catch being swung into the planev of the closure panels.

lIn FIGS. 1A and 1B, the ilow of the cans 14 through .the machine isfrom the left to the right. The cans 14 enter the machine along supportplates 15a and 15b. The cans 14 which are to be packaged have beenseparated into 4groups of six by a group selector means (not shown) asdisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 677,3 87,' liledAugust 9, 1957, now abandoned. In FIG. 1A, the carton blanks 16 aremoved by pusher blocks 18 carried by conveyer chains 17. FIG. 1A showsthe blank 16 resting on the conveyor chains 17 and travelling in aVleftward direction above the incoming cans. The blocks `18 containrecesses 19 and projections 20, which projections serve to push thecarton blanks forward along the upper reach of the upper conveyer 21shown in an elevation view in FIG. 2. Such blocks are disclosed in moredetail in my above-referred to copending application.

The can groupings 22, each of which include two rows,

are delivered along supports 15a and 15b by the separatdi,

ing means in a synchronized relationship with both upper conveyer 21 andlower conveyer 23, so that each group- .ing is pushed by the blocks 18on conveyer chain 17 and the pusher bars 24 on the lower conveyer chain25. In

FIG. 2, the pusher bars 24 rest against the trailing sides l of the twoend cans of a can grouping 22. The recesses 19 of the blocks 18 contactthe chimes of the end cans 14 while projections 20 contact the trailingedge of the carton blank 16. Thus, the can grouping 22 is pushed by therecessed portion of the blocks 18 and by the pusher bars 24 while thecarton blank l16 is conveyed by conveyer 21 above the can grouping andis contacted by the projections 20 which also push the blank along.

Sprocket wheels 26and 27, powered by conventional means (not shown),drive the conveyer chains in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2. Thechain are syn- -chronized s'o as to maintainalignment between blocks 1Sland pusher bars 24.

FIG. 1A shows a plan view of the complete carton blank in an unfoldedstate resting on the conveyer chains '17. The carton blank is disclosedin the aforesaid copending application of Arthur l. Weiss. The cartonblank includes side panels 28 and 29, top panel 30, and bottom :closurepanels' 31 and 32. Closure panel 32 has a latching ap 33, pivotalcatches 3S along the fold line 34 of Vlatching ap 33, and tongues 36attached to latching .flap 33. Latch openings 37 are located on closurepanel 31. Fold lines are provided between the various panels.

'Ihe carton blanks 16 are delivered onto conveyer chains 17 by a feedingmeans (not shown) such as that disclosed in my copending application,Serial No. 677,387. As

shown in FIG. 3, folding disc 38, having a conical rim 39, is driven bychain 40 through shaft 42. Shaft 42 is supported in a bearing 'carriedbyl support y41 and rotates once for each passing can grouping so thatthe flange in its rotation comes into contact with each passing blank.vSaid support carries a bracket '43 for supporting shaft 45 upon whichis mounted idler disc 44. Disc 44 is slight- }ly offset from n'm 39 sothat tongue 36 may pass therebetween: and therebybe folded in an upwardmanner thus `pre-breaking the score line between tongue I36' and ap 33.This lpre-breaking is ofgreatimportance in high-speed automaticmachinery in which upwards of 720 cans are packaged in a minute. Thepre-breaking insures smooth bending of the tongues 36 between foldingmembers 75, 79 of FIG. 7.

In machines of less speed such as those packaging 300 cans, more orless, per minute the need for such prebreaking is not as great as thecarton goes through much more slowly.

The same situation exists in connection with the prebreaking of thescore line between aps l32, 33 and for the same reasons.

The carton blanks then pass within curved guides 46 which conform to thecircular travel of chain 17 around wheels 26. From the guides 46, thecarton blanks 16 are placed upon the incoming can groupings 22. Eachgrouping, withthe carton blank thereon, is then pushed along supports15a and 15b until it is beneath folding discs 47, 48. As shown in FIGS.2 and 3, discs 47, 48 are semi-circular in form and are provided withanges 51 which come into contact with the carton blank 16 resting on theapproaching grouping 22. Flanges 51 start the downward folding of sidepanels 28 and 29 of carton blank 16. Discs 47, 48 are also driven byshaft 42 so that its rotation is synchronized with the speed of travelof can groupings 22. As further shown in FIG. 3, latching ap 33 isfolded upwardly along fold line 3'4 by the action of offset wheels 49and 50. Plates 56 and 57 contain curved end portions 58 and 59,respectively, so as to facilitate the entrance of the folded down sidesof the carton between guides 52 and 54.

As shown in FIG. 4, guide 52, which has an undercut 53, is mounted withits inner edge overhanging that of folding plate 56. The inside surfaceof guide 54 overhangs the inside edge of folding plate 57. Undercuts 53and 55 permit movement of that portion of flaps 31, 32 that extendbeyond the sides 28, 29 when said flaps 31, 32 are being folded intohorizontal position. The folding plates 56, 57, as the blank is slidalong them, cause said aps to fold towards its nal horizontal position.

As shown in FIG. 1A, support plate 15A is cut out at 59, so as toprovide clearance for flap 33 when it is folded upwardly. Support plate15B is cut inwardly at 60 near its end 61 and support plate 56 also hasa portion 62 extending inwardly, spaced from but substantially parallelto the portion 60 of plate 61.

As illustrated best in FIG. 5, an idler wheel 63 carried on shaft 64 islocated in line with support plate 15B beyond end 61. The upper portionof the rim of idler wheel 63 is above the plane of support plates 15Aand 15B, so that, as the grouping 22 approaches portion 62, carton panel31 is deected upwardly. The carton panel 31, as the carton continues itsforward movement, then comes into contact with the rim of wheel 63 andis forced upward between the rim of said wheel and the bottom chimes ofthe advancing cans.

The elevation of the cans 14 of one row, one at a time, by idler Wheel63 serves to offset the chimes of the cans in the row passing over theidler with respect to the chimes of the cans of the adjacent row. Duringthis offsetting action, as shown in FIG. 5, the convergent portion ofguide 66 causes the cans in one row to move in a lateral direction, oneat a time, towards the cans -in the adjacent row thus causing the chimesof the cans in one row to overlap the chimes of the cans in the otherrow. By folding closure panel 31 under plate 15B as the row of cans 14on plate 15B approaches idler 63, the cans are smoothly transferred fromsupport plate 15B and are cushioned during the elevating action. As alsoshown in FIG. 5, support plate 68 at a point beyond the idler 63 iselevated above support plate 57 so as to maintain the package in avertical position after it passes beyond idler wheel 63.

After leaving idler Wheel 63, closure panel 31, which has beencompletely folded up against the bottoms of the cans, passes abovevertical plate 69. The tapered portion 70 of plate 57 serves as afolding blade which rotates closure panel 32 upwardly beneath the narrowportion of support plate 15B. Upon the continued upward movement ofclosure panel 32, tongues 36 and latching ap 33 are forced againstvertical plate 69. Folding blade 72 is spaced from and parallel withvertical plate 69 and is tapered upwardly in the direction of travel ofthe cans through the machine. The advancing edge of closure panel 32contacts the tapered portion of folding blade 72 and is urged upwardlyas the cans move along with the plate 15A beneath one row of cans andwith the adjacent row resting on panel 31. As the top of the taperedportion of folding blade 72 is reached, closure panel 31 and closurepanel 32 are forced into complete folding and overlapping while pivotalcatch 35, which is guided by vertical plate 69, is directed throughlatch opening 37 in closure panel 31. At this point, pivotal catch 35,latching flap 33 and tongue 36 are at substantially right angles to thebottoms of the cans. It should also be noted that the carton closurepanels have now been completely folded and overlapped with support plate15A still in the package before the cans leave their supports as thepackage travels onto receiving plates 57A and 68A. As the packagetravels onto receiving plates 68A, 57A the support plate 15A is nolonger in the package.

, An angled folding member 73A having a horizontal folding section orblade 73 (FIG. 7) is located adjacent and parallel to support plate 57A,and has a rounded end portion 74 (FIG. 1B) which assists the passage ofthe folded latching flap and closure panel. At this point, the fold lineof the latching ap 33 is in contact with the edge of folding blade 73.The underside ofthe outer edge of blade 73 is tapered so as to giveclearance for panel 33 in its backward movement. Lower horizontalfolding blade 75, mounted on support 77, is positioned so as to underlieand be substantially parallel to folding blade 73. As the cartonadvances, the forward edge of latching ap 33 comes in contact with therounded end portion 78 (see FIG. 1B) of lower folding blade 75. As thecarton travels along and in contact with this blade it rotates latchingflap 33, so as to swing the pivotal catch about fold line 34 around theedge of folding blade 73 which serves as a fulcrum. This action resultsin tongue 36 being deflected against vertical support 79. Due to thefact that the top surface of folding blade 73 is -located lower than thetop surface of plate 57, pivotal catch `35 will clear the bottom 80 ofthe can as it is swung outwardly. However, many times the bottoms ofsome cans are bulged outwardly to a greater vextent than some others. Insuch a case, the carrier is strong enough so that the swinging motion ofcatch 35 can continue provided there is a give in the Hap 31. The factthat blade 73 is positioned below blade 57, as heretofore explained,allows for the bending down of flap 31 when latch 35 is forced to moveup and down due to the irregular surface of the bottoms of the cans orother containers being packaged. This outward bulging into convex formis usually caused by the internal pressure of the contents of canscontaining beer. With pivotal catch 35 moved down soas to clear bottom80, it is then in a position to be moved into interlocking engagementWith latch opening 37. Y

`As shown in FIG. 1B, lower folding blade 75 has a :portion 81 whichtapers toward support plate 68.- Slightly beyond the beginning of thistapered portion 81 is the beginning of tapered folding bar 82, whichlies in a horizontal plane and rests upon vertical support 79. Theadvanced edge oflatching flap 33 comes in contact Vwith tapered foldingbar 82, which causes latching ap 33 to rotate inwardly. Continued inwardrotation causes pivotal catch 35V to move into the latch opening-37. Asseen in `FIG. 8, folding bar 82 urges latching llap 33 against the fend,portion183 (FIG. 1B) of lower horizontal folding blade 4'75, located'above folding bar `82. `A`s.se'en'in FIGS. 1B and 9, folding bar 82tapers inwardly sufficiently so chimes of the cans and idler 63.

`and plate 72 direct tongues that folded tongue 3 6 passes over it whenit is beyond end 83 of horizontal folding blade 75. Support 85 ispositioned at the beginning of a narrow portion 84. of support plate 68.Support 85 has a ramp 86 (FIG. 1B) which permits the smooth passage ofclosure panel 31` as it travels onto support 85. Vertical guide 87 isattached to the inner edge of support 85. Originating at the end 0ffolding bar 82 is the ramp portion `88 ofl wall 89, mounted on support96, the inner surface of Wall 89 having a sloping contour 90,. Slopingguide wall 91 has a rounded end portion 92. As the carton advances,tongue 36 passes from folding bar 82 to ramp portion 88 of wall 89,which, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, folds tongue 36 toward vertical guide87. The upward folding of tongue 36 causes the upward rotation oflatching ap 33 so that it passes over rounded end portion 92 and ontosloping guide wall 91. During these movements, pivotal catch 35 passesbeneath the can bottom 80` so as to lock against latch opening 37. Ramp93, which lies between wall 89 and guide wall `91, slopes in an upwarddirection. Tongue 36 passes from ramp portion 88 to sloping contour 90of wall 89, at which time it is aligned with latch opening 37, and thenthe fold line connecting tongue 36 to latching flap 33 contacts ramp 93.As the fold line of tongue 36 progresses upwardly along ramp 93, tongue36 is passed through the latch opening and beneath the can bottom.Widened portion 94 of folding blade 73 aids the final locking motion bypushing against latching Hap 33. Support plate 95, located at the end oframp 93, also contacts latching flap 33 so as to flatten the closurepanels against the can bottoms.

Operation As a further aid to the understanding of my invention, I shallnow describe the preferred sequence of operating steps.

Can groupings 22 are delivered to the machine by a group selectormechanism (not shown) while carton blanks 16 are delivered to the upperconveyer 21. The upper conveyer 21 is synchronized with the groupselector mechanism for the can groupings 22 so that the carton blanksare inverted and then placed upon the can groupings after the lpassageof said blanks through curved guides A46. Can groupings 22 are pushedthrough the machine by means of blocks 18 and pusher bars 24 carriedupon uppei chain 17 andlower chain 25, respectively. The interaction ofdiscs 38 and 44 serves to break the fold line between tongues 36 andlflaps 33 of carton blank 16 while wheels 49 and 50 serve to break thefold line 34 between latching 'flap 33 and panel 32. Carton side panels28 and 29 are then folded along the sides of the can grouping 22 bymeans 'of discs 47, 48. Tapered portion l62 of the folding `supportplate 56 initiates the upward turning of closure panel '31 which thenpasses between the bottoms of the Idler wheel 63 both helps to foldclosure panel 31 beneath the cans and elevates the cans, one at a timein one row, so that the chimes of the ca'ns in one row are offset withrespect to those in the adjacent row. Convergent guide 66 urges `.theadjacent row of cans, also one at a time, towards the row beingelevatedlso as to overlap the offset chimes. The `folding of the closurepanel 31 beneath the cans approaching idler 63 facilitates a smoothentry of the car-1s for elevation by idler 63, while idler 63 supportsthe panel 31 with the weight of the cans thereon.

After leaving idler wheel `63 the cans which formerly were inrcontactwith support plate 15B are now resting on closure panel 31 which is nowsupported by plate 68.

The action of the tapered portion of support plate 57 and the'taperedfolding blade 72 serves to swing closure :panel 32 beneath the support15A upon which one row lof cans is resting. At the same time, verticalplate '69 36 through latch openings 37. At this point, "closure panel 32has been completely folded and completely"overlapspanel 31 and haspassed beyond the end of Support zplate E1514i Vso that it also l'isnew-in contact with the bottoms of the chimes in the adjacent row.

v VTo insure clearance between pivotal catch 35 and the bottoms 80 ofthe cans within the area inside of the can chimes, horizontal foldingblade 75 rotates latching ap 33 with respect to the horizontal foldingsection blade 73, of the angled folding member 73A. Member 73 serves asa fulcrum for the folding action. Tapered folding bar 82 then swingslatching flap B3 in the opposite direction to start the locking motion,which locking motion is 'continued by ramp portion 88 of wall 89 urgingtongue 36 in an upward manner so that the fold line of tongue 36 passesaround vertical guide 87. Sloping guide wall 91 supports latching flap33 during the folding of tongues 36.

Upward sloping ramp 93, acting on the fold line of tongue 36, pushes thetongue through latch opening 37. The final closing of latching flap 33is accomplished by widened portion 94 of folding blade 73, while support96 flattens latching flap 33 against the bottom chimes.

The above folding and locking of the panels 31 and 32 is accomplished bythe continuous forward movement of 'the blank and cans so that thepanels 31, 32 come into contact sequentially with the various :foldingand locking members above described as the blank and cans travel throughthe machine, thus causing the panels 31, 32 to move in the mannerheretofore stated.

'I'he terms and expressions which I have employed are used in adescriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention ofexcluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portionsthereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

l. In amachine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton having overlapped closure panels one of which has alatch opening and the other of which includes .a pivotal catch forengagement -with said latch opening, means for pushing the carton ,blankand cans through the machine, means for wrapping the carton blank aroundthe outside of the rows of cans, means for folding said latch openingpanel beneath the cans and for simultaneously elevating the cans, one ata time, beneath which said latch opening panel is being .folded and inthe row adjacent said latch opening panel toA place the chimes of saidcans in overlapped relation lto the chimes of the cans in the adjacentrow, means for simultaneously folding the pivotal catch panel beneaththe cans in the row adjacent said pivotal catch panel, means forengaging the pivotal catch through said latch opening, and means forswinging the pivotal catch into substantially the plane of the foldedclosure panels.

2. A-machine in accordance with claim l, wherein said carton blank hasside panels which when the carton blank is vwrapped around the cans,contact the sides of the cans,

and fu-rther comprising means for moving and holding Vthe rows together,said last named means including a pair vof guides each of which contactone of said side panels, said guides having portions which converge inthe direction of travel of said cans and end substantially adjacent saidelevating means, portions substantially parallel to each other inadvance of said elevating means and said converging portions, `and otherportions parallel to each vother beyond said converging portions.

3. In a machine for applying to rows of cans and the like a Vwrap-aroundcarton having overlapping closure panels, supports along which said canstravel, means for 'wrapping the carton blank around the outside of saidcans,`means for securing said panels to each other and means Vincludingan idler roller underlying and having its -axis of rotation atsubstantially a right angle to the path of travel of said row of cansadjacent said latch opening 'panel and having a portion thereof raisedabov'e the plane of the support along which said cans travel saidportion Eof said; 'roller being substantially tangential Yto the bot-1.175

"8 tom's of the cans so as to elevate the cans in one row", one at atime, abovev the cans in an adjacent row.

4. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged' in rows, awrap-around carton having' closure panels one of which has a latchopening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch for engagementwith said latch opening, the combination comprising means for foldingthe pivotal catch panel and for engaging the pivotal catch through saidlatch opening, and means for swinging the pivotal catch intosubstantially the plane of the folded closure panels.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 4 in which said means for foldingthe pivotal catch and for engaging the pivotal catch includes a foldingblade contacting the outside of said panel, a vertical plate parallel tothe direction of travel of said cans and aligned with said latchopening, and a vertical folding blade having an upwardly tapered topedge, said vertical folding blade being located between said verticalplate and said folding blade in parallel relationship to said verticalplate and spaced therefrom so that the rotary catch moves towards saidlatch opening while said tapered edge contacts the outside of saidpanel,

6. A machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein said pivotal catchpanel includes a latching flap extending along the end of said panel ata transverse fold line located within the overlap of said closurepanels, said pivotal catch extending across and interrupting said foldline, and a tongue projecting from the end of said latching ap, saidcatch and said tongue extending in opposite directions, in which saidmeans for swinging the pivotal catch includes an upper horizontal bladelocated beneath the chimes of said cans with its inner edge lying along'the outside of said fold line, a folding blade for swinging saidlatching llap outwardly with respect to said upper horizontal blade, asecond folding blade for swinging said latching flap inwardly, asubstantially vertical plate parallel to the directionof travel of thecans and above the path of travel ofsaid tongue, a folding member forswinging the tongue upwardly about said vertical plate as a fulcrum soas to align said tongue with the latch opening, and a ramp slopingupwardly in the direction of travel of the cans for pushing the end ofthe latching llap thereby to pass the tongue through the latch openingland complete the upward swing of the latching flap.

7. The method of applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton having overlapped closure panels one of which has alatch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch forengagement with said latch opening, which comprises the steps ofwrapping the carton blank around the outside ofthe rows of cans, foldingthe latch opening panel beneath the cans and at the same time elevatingthe cans beneath which the latch opening llapis being folded, one at atime, in the row adjacent said latch opening panel, moving the cans inthe adjacent row laterally, one at a time, to place the chimes of saidcans in overlapped relation to the chimes of the cans in the saidadjacent row, then folding the pivotal catch panel beneath the cans inthe row adjacent said pivotal catch panel, engaging the pivotal catchthrough said latch opening, and swinging the pivotal catch intosubstantially the plane of the folded closure panels.

'8., In the method of applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton having overlapped closure panels one of which has alatch opening and the other of which has a pivotal catch for engagementwith said latch opening, the steps performed concurrently of folding thelatch opening panel beneath the cans and continuing the foldingof saidlatch opening panel after it contacts the cans to transmit a liftingforce to the cans toelevate the cans 'beneath which said latch openingpanel is being folded, one at a time, in the row adjacent said latchopening panel to place the chimes of said cans in voverlapped relationto the chimes of the cans in the adjacent rowi-il j Y y 9; In a machinefor applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, a wrap-around cartonblank having overlapped closure panels one of which has a latch openingand the other of which includes a pivotal catch for engagement with saidlatch opening, means for pushing the carton blank and cans through themachine, means for Wrapping the carton blank around the outside of therows of cans; means for folding the latch opening panel beneath the cansand for simultaneously elevating the cans, one `at* a time, in the rowadjacent said latch opening panel to place the chimes of said cans inoperlapped relation to the chimes of the cans in the adjacent row,including an idler wheel underlying and having its axis of rotation atsubstantially a right angle to the path of travel of said row of cansadjacent said latch opening panel and having a portion of said wheelextending above the plane of the support along which the cans travel,said portion of said wheel being substantially tangential to the bottomsof the cans; means for folding the pivotal catch panel beneath the cansin the row adjacent said pivotal catch panel; means for engaging thepivotal catch through said latch opening; and means for swinging thepivotal catch into substantially the plane of the folded closure panel.

10. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton blank having overlapped closure panels one of whichhas a latch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch forengagement with said latch opening, means for pushing the carton blankand cans through 'the machine; means for wrapping the carton blankaround the outside of the rows of cans; means for folding the latchopening panel beneath the cans and for simultaneously elevating thecans, one at a time, in the row adjacent said latch opening panel toplace the chimes of said cans in overlapped relation to the chimes ofthe cans in the adjacent row; means for folding the pivotal catch panelbeneath the cans in the row adjacent said pivotal catch panel; means forengaging the pivotal catch through said latch opening; said means forfolding t-he pivotal catch panel and said means `for engaging thepivotal catch including a folding blade contacting the outside of saidpanel, a ver- Atical plate parallel to the direction of travel of saidcans and aligned with said latch opening, and a vertical fold ingblade'havin'g an upwardly tapered top edge, said vertical folding bladebeing located between said vertical plate and said folding blade inparallel relationship to said vertical plate and spaced therefrom sothat the pivotal catch passes upwards between said vertical plate andsaid latch opening while said tapered edge contacts the outside of saidpanel; and means for swinging the pivotal catch into substantially theplane of the folded closure panels.

ll. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton blank having overlapped closure panels one of whichhas a latch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch forengagement with said latch opening, said pivotal catch panel including alatching flap extending along the end of said panel at a transverse foldline located within the overlap of said closure panels, said pivotalcatch extending across and interrupting said fold line, and a tongueprojecting from the end of said latching ap, said catch and said tongueextending in opposite directions, means for pushing the carton blank andcans through the ma-s chine, means for wrapping the carton blank aroundthe outside of the rows of cans, means for folding the latch openingpanel beneath the cans and for simultaneously elevating the cans, one ata time, in the row adjacent said latch opening panel to place the chimesof said cans in overlapped relation to the chimes of the cans in theadjacent row, means for folding the pivotal catch panel beneath the cansin the row adjacent said pivotal catch panel, means for engaging thepivotal catch through said latch opening, and means for swinging thepivotal catch into substantially the plane of the folding closure panelsincluding an upper horizontal blade locatedZ len't'eatliv the chimes ofsaid cans with its inner edge lying along ,the outside of said foldline, a folding blade for swinging' said latching flap outwardly withrespect to said uppe horizontal blade, a second folding blade forswinging said latching ap inwardly, a substantially vertical plateparallel to the direction of travel of the cans and above the path oftravel of said tongue, a folding member for swinging the tongue upwardlyabout said vertical plate as a fulcrum so as to align said tongue withthe latch opening, and a ramp sloping upwardly in the direction oftravel of the cans for pushing the end of the latching ap thereby topass the tongue through the latch opening. l A

12. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton blank having overlapped closure panels one of whichhas a latch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch forengagement with said latch opening, said pivotal catch panel including alatching ap extending along the end of said panel at a transverse foldline locatedwithin the overlap of said closure panels, said pivotalcatch extending across and interrupting said fold line, means for pushiing the carton blank and cans through the machine, means for wrappingthe carton blank around the outside of the rows of cans, means forfolding therlatch opening panel beneath the cans and for simultaneouslyelevating the cans, one at a time, in the row adjacent said -la'tchopening panel to place the chimes of said cans in overlapped relation tothe chimes of the cans in the adjacent row, means for folding thepivotal catch panel beneaththe cans in the row adjacent said pivotalcatch panel, means for engaging the pivotal catch panel through saidlatch opening, and means for swinging the pivotal catch intosubstantially the plane of the folded closure panels in cluding an upperhorizontal blade located beneath the chimes of said cans with its inneredge lying along the outside of said fold line, a folding blade swingingsaid latching ap outwardly with respect to said upper horizontal blade,and a second folding blade for swinging said latching ap inwardly intosubstantially the plane of the folded closure panels. u ,u

13. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton blank having overlapped closure panels one of whichhas Va latch opening and the other of which includes 'a pivotal catchfor. engagement with said latch opening, said pivotal catch panelincluding a latching ap, extending along the end of said panel at atransverse fold line located within the overlap of said closure panels,said pivotal catch extending across and interrupting said fold line, atongue projecting from the end of said latching flap, said catch andsaid tongue extending in the opposite direction and an additionaltransverse fold line extending between said tongue and said latchingflap, means for breaking said transverse fold line and other means forbreaking said additional `transverse fold line, means for pushing thecarton blank and cans through the machine, means for wrapping 'thecarton blank around the outside of the rows of cans, means for foldingthe latch opening panel beneath the cans and for simultaneouslyelevating the cans, one at a time, in the row adjacent said latchopening panel to place the chimes of said cans in overlapped relation tothe chimes of the cans in the adjacent row, means for folding thepivotal catch panel beneath the cans in the row adjacent said pivotalcatch panel, means for engaging the pivotal catch through said latchopening, and means for swinging the pivotal catch into substantially theplane of the folding closure panels including an upper Ahorizontal bladelocated beneath the chimes of said cans with its inner edge lying alongthe outside of said fold line, a folding blade for swinging saidlatching llap outwardly with respect to said upper horizontal blade, asecond folding blade for swing- Y ing said latching flap inwardly, asubstantially vertical plate parallel to the direction of travel of thecans and above the path of travel of said tongue, a folding member forswingl1 ing the tongueupwardlyabout saidvertical plate as a fulcrum soas toalign said tongue with the latch opening, and-a ramp slopingupwardly in the direction of travel of the leans for pushing the end ofthe latching flap thereby to -pass the tongue through the latch opening.

14. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awrap-around carton blank having overlapped closure panels one of whichhas a latch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch forengagement with said latch opening, said pivotal catch panel including alatching flap, extending along the end of said paneljat a transversefold line located within the overlap of said closure panels, saidpivotal catch extend- `ing across and interrupting said fold line, atongue projecting from'rtheend of said latching ap, said catch andsaid'to'ngue extending in the opposite direction and anadditional'tran'sverse fold line extending between said tongue and saidlatching flap, means for breaking said transversefold line, means forpushing the carton blank and cans through the machine, means forwrapping the carton blank around the outside of the rows of cans, meansfor folding Vthe latch opening panel beneath the cans and forsimultaneously elevating the cans, one at a time, in fthe row adjacentsaid latch opening panel to place the chimes of said cans in overlappedrelation to the chimes ofthe cans in the adjacent row, means forfoldingthe pivotal catch panel beneath the cans in the row adjacent saidpivotal catch panel, means for engagingthe 'pivotal catch through saidlatch opening, and means for'swinging thepivotal catch intosubstantially the plane of the folding closure panels including an upperhorizontal blade located beneath the chimes of said cans with'its inneredge lying along the outside of said fold line, a' folding blade forswinging said latching ap outwardly with respect to said upperhorizontal blade, a second folding blade for swinging said latching flapinwardly, a Vsubstantially vertical plate parallel to the di- '.rectionof travel of the cans and above the path of travel of saidtongue, afolding member for swinging the tongue upwardly about said verticalplate as a fulcrum so as to valignV said tongue with the latch opening,and a ramp sloping upwardlyin the direction of travel of the cans forpushing the end of the latching ap thereby to pass the tongue throughthe latch opening.

l5. In a machine for applying to cans and the like arranged in rows, awraparound carton blank having over? lapped closure panels one of whichhas a latch opening and the other of which includes a pivotal catch foren gagement with said latch opening, said pivotal catch panel includinga latching tiap, extending along the end of said panel at a transversefold line located Within the overlap of said closure panels, saidpivotal catch extending across and interrupting said fold line, a tongueprojecting from the end of said latching ap, said catch and -said tongueextending in the opposite direction and an additional transverse foldline extending between said tongue and said latching ap, means forbreaking said additional transverse fold line, means for pushing thecarton blanks and cans through the machine, means for folding the latchopening panel beneath the cans and for simultaneously elevating thecans, one at a time, in the row adjacent said latch opening panel toplace the chimes of said cans in overlapped relation to the chimes ofthe cans in the adjacent row, means for folding the pivotal catch panelbeneath the cans in the row adjacent said pivotal catch panel, means forengaging the pivotal catch through said latch opening, and means forswinging the pivotal catch into substantially the plane of the foldingclosure panels including an upper horizontal blade located beneath thechimes of said cans with its inner edge lying along the outside of saidfold line, a folding blade for swinging said latching ap outwardly withrespect to said upper horizontal blade, a second folding blade forswinging said latching ap inwardly, a substantially vertical plateparallel lto the direction of travel of the cans and above the path oftravel of said tongue, a folding member for swinging the tongue upwardlyabout said vertical plate as a fulcrum so as to align said tonguewiththe latch opening, and a ramp sloping upwardly in the direction oftravel of the cans for pushing the end ofth'e latching flap thereby topass the tongue through the latch opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GentryOct. 15,v 19547 2, line 23, for

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIGN Patent No.2,986,857 Junge, 1961 Henry Ganz corrected below..

Column l, line 46, for "malcine" column "outwarly" read outwardly column3, line 49, for "chain" read chains column 8, line 24?. for the claimreference numeral "7" read 4 Signed and sealed .this 21st day ofNovember 19611,"

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVIDL. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of PatentsuscoMMDc

